The Australia captain, Pat Rafter, has named teenagers Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson in his Davis Cup team to face France in the World Group first round.

With Bernard Tomic out with a hip injury, Rafter is banking on youth to complement the experience of Lleyton Hewitt and doubles player Chris Guccione.

Kyrgios, 18, and Kokkinakis, 17, both reached the second round of the Australian Open last week, while 19-year-old Thompson won the wildcard playoff to qualify for the Melbourne Park major and will travel with the squad as the back-up player.